The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-05-18
FARM NOTES.

Evergreen hedges may be trimmed and
put in shape as late as this month, but 1t
is best not TO cut back too much.
The season has been very favorable to
the growth of young strawberry plants,
the loss IN some sections being very small.
Use no stable manure on your peach
trees A mixture of some kind of mineral
fertilizers is better. Experiments have
shown mail to be excellent for peach trees.
There are over sixty poultry associations
in the United States that annually give ex-
hibitions. They have been instrumental
in greatly advancing the poultry interests.
a fresh egg will sink when placed in
water, and when boiled the skin will not
peel off like that of an orange, as is the
case with those not strictly fresh. Stale
eggs are gli ssy and very smooth, while
fresh eggs have peculiar T0ughness.
Soon the scare-crow and stretched wires
Will be seen in the fields as protection
against crows, but it is disputed question
as to whether the crow in the corn-feld is
an enemy or a friend. Though he be
sometimes destructive to the corn, yet he
destroys many insects and grubs.
Young pigs will usually commence to
eat when about three weeks old, and the
more attractive the portion put within
their reach the quicker they will learn to
make a full feed. If they can have a little
fresh milk at the start so much the better,
but by common consent skim milk Is
counted sufficient to meet piggy's notion.
With milk as starter they will soon take
to slop made of mill feed.
At the present price of pure-b bred dairy
COWS few farmers feel able TO buy them, un-
less they intend TO combine with dairying
the business of fine stock raising. The
dairyman will, therefore, find the plan of
starting with selected grade of COWS and a
pure bred bull of good pedigree best adapt
fourths OF seven-eighths Holsten or Jersey
grade COWS can thus be built up in a few
years.
English mutton is largely fattened on
tuInips, and yet 1t maintains its superior.
ity. While not themselves very nutritious,
yet turnips promote good digestion, on
which rapid fattening and the good, Juicy
quality of the meat largely depends.
A merino ram at Middlebury, Vt, pro-
duced a weight of twenty-nine pounds and
eleven ounces of fleece from $40 days
growth, although the carcass weighed only
100 pounds, the wool being nearly 80 per
cent. that of the carcass Another ram,
which was sheared of his sixth fleece, gave
thiIty-eight and onehalf pounds of IN
washed wool.
Sometimes the little Jersey COW is a
good mixer. Fawn of st. Lambert, who
was three years and nine months old at the
beginning of her test, produced as much as
10,10l15 pounds (about 5 900 quarts) of
milk in twelve months. giving as high as
fifty-four pounds per day at some periods.
She also produced nearly 572 pounds OF
butter for the year, her highest record for
one week being fifteen pounds five and one
| half ounces.
AS to controlling the sex of animals, the
theory now most generally believed is that
naturally animals which usually bring
| forth but one at birth will produce the
sexes alternately-that is. the first ovum
produces male, the next ovum, If impreg-
| mated, will p oiuce female; consequently
| If a COW or mare, after producing female,
| is impregnated at the first period OF heat
thereafter. the produce will be a male. If
| female offspring only is desired, one period
| of heat should elapse after the birth OF a
| female before the dam is again served by
| the male. Many skillful cattlemen firmly
| believe this rule can be relied on in most
/ cases.
The Hog very pertlnently says: One of
| the anomalies in Western hog raising is to
| be found in the fact that so many farmers
| drive their hogs to Market and to supply
their own wants turn around aud pay a
| dealer a profit or the slaughtered animal.
| We have seen many reasons advanced for
this bung-hole waste and spigot saving, but
| it has often occurred to Us that it may be
owing to the fact that most Western farm
| ers attempt to spread over too much
| ground-theif farms are too big to be prof.
| table, and III attempting to cover them in
a general way they neglect all matters OF
/ detail. 1t is the man who masters details
and looks after all the little things that is
most successful in farming, commercial life
or in m ost any undertaking.
| LAS this is critical season and milk fever
- kelly to cause more or less trouble and
loss, few words on the subject will not be
| out of place. Cows should not be given
heating or stimulating foods for several
days before coming in, nor should they be
in plethoric condition or over-fat. A re-
lsxiDg diet is best: but COW should be in
a thriving condition. In case OF attack il
the cow is robust and has a strong pulse
bleeding is recommended. But II she il
run down and weak, she needs stimulating
J The following Ia recommended by dairy